Post by maximaddict on Oct 17, 2010 20:12:28 GMT 1
en.domnina-shabalin.ru/publ/2009_10/maxim_shabalin_doesn_39_t_rule_out_his_come_back_to_figure_skating/7-1-0-48
Maxim Shabalin doesn't rule his return to figure skating
МOSCOW, October 7th - RIA Novosti, Andrei Simonenkо. Former World champion in ice dancing Maxim Shabalin, who retired from amateur sport after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, told RIA Novosti that he may return to competitive sport.
Maxim Shabalin, Bronze medal winner at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver with partner Oksana Domnina, announced after the Games that he was taking an indefinite break for the treatment of a chronic knee injury.
"I must admit that no miracle happened yet - said the skater to the agency - I am continuing the process of rehabilitation with a well known expert in the field, Vladimir Preobrazhenskiy, the same professor who has helped me a lot before the Olympics. I do rehabilitation for 2-3 hours a day, and I feel much better. If I should feel like I can skate at the same level as before, then I will come back. "
Shabalin said that his return to figure skating will be happening only with his partner on the ice, Oksana Domnina. "That is the one and only option. I am sure that she would be happy to return as well" – he said.
According to the dancer, injury is not preventing him from taking part in TV show "Ice and Fire." "The work load in this project is much lighter than in competitive sport - explained Shabalin. – The effort there is mainly of creative nature. Each week we must submit a new number. In sport, we did two dances and practiced them a few hours a day throughout the year. "
The skater admitted that he enjoys performing in the TV show. "Of course there are difficulties there too - he says – It’s not easy to do creative work with a partner who’s been on the ice for only two months. The technical arsenal here is - to put it mildly - very limited. But I am very happy to be around people who are professional actors. We learn a lot from them. "
Shabalin also spoke about his work in the executive committee of the Russian Federation of figure skating. "The area of my responsibilities there is, of course, ice dance – he said – Specifically, I work as a consultant for our athletes, advise them and assess their programs with fresh eyes."
The athlete also commented on the decision of the International Skating Union (ISU) to combine elements from compulsory and original dance in a new program called short dance.
"At first I was skeptical, but when I saw what our athletes did with their programs, I changed my mind. It is a clever idea, which will work to the sport’s advantage. The audience is much more interested in watching different short dances in which the required elements are incorporated, rather than identical compulsory dances. "- said Shabalin.
The 2010 Olympic medalist also said that he believes in the possibility of newly formed dance couple Yana Khokhlova / Fedor Andreev. "Unfortunately, I have not seen their programs yet - said Shabalin - But I am sure that they have good chances to enter the elite of skaters. Yana is an experienced athlete, and a fighter. The fact that Fedor was a single skater before doesn’t mean much, he is still a figure skater. On top of that, they skate in a group that is currently leader in the world. "
The recently formed Russian dance couple is trained by Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva, mother of Fedor Andreev. Among the students of Shpilband and Zueva are Vancouver Olympic champions, Canadians Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir, and silver medalist, Americans Meryl Davis / Charlie White.
According to Shabalin, he liked the choreographies of the Russian couples who train in Moscow and the Moscow region. He mentioned in particular the programs of Helena Ilinykh / Nikita Katsalapova, Ekaterina Bobrova / Dmitri Soloviev, Ekaterina Ryazanova / Ilya Tkachenko.
"Everybody is well prepared for the season - said Shabalin. - I was surprised that all of our couples skate at such a high speed, and have some insanely fast twizzles. All the lifts are excellent. The only thing they are missing at the moment is the experience of performing at major competitions. "
"They have to "learn the ropes”. "Once this happens, everyone will have a chance to fight for the leadership, because right now there isn’t a clear leader in the team" - added the athlete.
Shabalin also said he did not consider a problem for a coach to combine his work with amateur athletes, with participation in commercial activities. In particular, he is comfortable with the fact that Alexandr Zhulin, mentor of dance couple Ilinykh / Katsalapov, is at the same time engaged in working with show-biz stars in the TV project "Ice and Fire."
"I know that guys are not being neglected - assured Shabalin. - They are working four hours a day on the ice. The fact that Ilinyk and Katsalapov are not in top form right now doesn’t mean anything - he says. Their Grand Prix debut is scheduled for October 20. Alexandr is a very experienced coach who knows how to bring his students to their top form at the right time. "
"At any rate, it is not fair to blame Zhulin. If he was paid a salary for his coach work of, let’s say, twenty thousand dollars, then there would be grounds to consider the two things as inappropriate. But since he’s paid twenty thousand rubles, then that’s another story" - he added .
Shabalin doesn’t rule out that in the future he might also become engaged in political activities, as well as his coaching ones : "Only if I discover that I have a flair for lawmaking, that I can be of any use in the area. I just don’t want to sit around in an office or hall doing nothing."
"In this regard, I absolutely agree with Ilya Averbukh, who was critical about the role of young athletes in politics" – concluded the skater.
Maxim Shabalin doesn't rule his return to figure skating
МOSCOW, October 7th - RIA Novosti, Andrei Simonenkо. Former World champion in ice dancing Maxim Shabalin, who retired from amateur sport after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, told RIA Novosti that he may return to competitive sport.
Maxim Shabalin, Bronze medal winner at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver with partner Oksana Domnina, announced after the Games that he was taking an indefinite break for the treatment of a chronic knee injury.
"I must admit that no miracle happened yet - said the skater to the agency - I am continuing the process of rehabilitation with a well known expert in the field, Vladimir Preobrazhenskiy, the same professor who has helped me a lot before the Olympics. I do rehabilitation for 2-3 hours a day, and I feel much better. If I should feel like I can skate at the same level as before, then I will come back. "
Shabalin said that his return to figure skating will be happening only with his partner on the ice, Oksana Domnina. "That is the one and only option. I am sure that she would be happy to return as well" – he said.
According to the dancer, injury is not preventing him from taking part in TV show "Ice and Fire." "The work load in this project is much lighter than in competitive sport - explained Shabalin. – The effort there is mainly of creative nature. Each week we must submit a new number. In sport, we did two dances and practiced them a few hours a day throughout the year. "
The skater admitted that he enjoys performing in the TV show. "Of course there are difficulties there too - he says – It’s not easy to do creative work with a partner who’s been on the ice for only two months. The technical arsenal here is - to put it mildly - very limited. But I am very happy to be around people who are professional actors. We learn a lot from them. "
Shabalin also spoke about his work in the executive committee of the Russian Federation of figure skating. "The area of my responsibilities there is, of course, ice dance – he said – Specifically, I work as a consultant for our athletes, advise them and assess their programs with fresh eyes."
The athlete also commented on the decision of the International Skating Union (ISU) to combine elements from compulsory and original dance in a new program called short dance.
"At first I was skeptical, but when I saw what our athletes did with their programs, I changed my mind. It is a clever idea, which will work to the sport’s advantage. The audience is much more interested in watching different short dances in which the required elements are incorporated, rather than identical compulsory dances. "- said Shabalin.
The 2010 Olympic medalist also said that he believes in the possibility of newly formed dance couple Yana Khokhlova / Fedor Andreev. "Unfortunately, I have not seen their programs yet - said Shabalin - But I am sure that they have good chances to enter the elite of skaters. Yana is an experienced athlete, and a fighter. The fact that Fedor was a single skater before doesn’t mean much, he is still a figure skater. On top of that, they skate in a group that is currently leader in the world. "
The recently formed Russian dance couple is trained by Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva, mother of Fedor Andreev. Among the students of Shpilband and Zueva are Vancouver Olympic champions, Canadians Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir, and silver medalist, Americans Meryl Davis / Charlie White.
According to Shabalin, he liked the choreographies of the Russian couples who train in Moscow and the Moscow region. He mentioned in particular the programs of Helena Ilinykh / Nikita Katsalapova, Ekaterina Bobrova / Dmitri Soloviev, Ekaterina Ryazanova / Ilya Tkachenko.
"Everybody is well prepared for the season - said Shabalin. - I was surprised that all of our couples skate at such a high speed, and have some insanely fast twizzles. All the lifts are excellent. The only thing they are missing at the moment is the experience of performing at major competitions. "
"They have to "learn the ropes”. "Once this happens, everyone will have a chance to fight for the leadership, because right now there isn’t a clear leader in the team" - added the athlete.
Shabalin also said he did not consider a problem for a coach to combine his work with amateur athletes, with participation in commercial activities. In particular, he is comfortable with the fact that Alexandr Zhulin, mentor of dance couple Ilinykh / Katsalapov, is at the same time engaged in working with show-biz stars in the TV project "Ice and Fire."
"I know that guys are not being neglected - assured Shabalin. - They are working four hours a day on the ice. The fact that Ilinyk and Katsalapov are not in top form right now doesn’t mean anything - he says. Their Grand Prix debut is scheduled for October 20. Alexandr is a very experienced coach who knows how to bring his students to their top form at the right time. "
"At any rate, it is not fair to blame Zhulin. If he was paid a salary for his coach work of, let’s say, twenty thousand dollars, then there would be grounds to consider the two things as inappropriate. But since he’s paid twenty thousand rubles, then that’s another story" - he added .
Shabalin doesn’t rule out that in the future he might also become engaged in political activities, as well as his coaching ones : "Only if I discover that I have a flair for lawmaking, that I can be of any use in the area. I just don’t want to sit around in an office or hall doing nothing."
"In this regard, I absolutely agree with Ilya Averbukh, who was critical about the role of young athletes in politics" – concluded the skater.